This includes for example being raped; being severely beaten as a child by a parent or step-parent; and being choked or strangled by a partner.

The ‘Hidden Hurt’ report also found that women who have been abused in these ways are almost twice as likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than soldiers returning from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.

A third have attempted suicideCredit:
Alamy

Half of women who have experience of extensive abuse have a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety disorder.

One in six screen positive for PTSD while 15 per cent have three or more mental health problems.

But 75 per cent of these women with mental health problems are not receiving treatment.

A third have gone on to attempt suicide.

“Around 1.2 million women in England have been repeatedly physically and sexually abused as a child and as an adult: for them, abuse is a constant."

Katharine Sacks-Jones

Agenda analysed the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS), which questioned a representative sample of 7,500 people in England who were interviewed by researchers.

It found that one in 20 women have suffered extensive abuse in their lives which extrapolates to an estimate of 1.2 million women in England.

The charity, which is now calling for better funding of specialist services to help abused women, warns that without proper support women who have experienced extensive abuse have very difficult lives.

One in five have been homeless at some point in their lives and a third have had alcohol problems.

More than a quarter have experienced a major financial crisis and women who have experienced this extensive abuse are significantly more likely to be poor with nearly half (46 per cent) in the poorest third of the population.

1.2 million women in England are living with the impact of physical or sexual abuseCredit:
Getty images

“Around 1.2 million women in England have been repeatedly physically and sexually abused as a child and as an adult: for them, abuse is a constant. At the moment we are failing them. Too many simply can’t get the help they need and are ending up with serious mental health problems, on our streets, and in our prisons.

“We need real commitment from all levels of Government to make sure these women and girls get the help they need as early as possible.”

The charity recommended that mainstream services should routinely enquire about and respond to women and girls’ experience of violence and abuse,

It also stressed different professions and services must work collaboratively so women and girls at risk do not fall through ‘gaps’ in provision.